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Twisted Summer
Excellent Book
Mass Market Paperback
First published February 3, 1998
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About the author
Willo Davis Roberts
120 books136 followersWillo Davis Roberts was an American writer chiefly known for her mystery novels for children and young adults. She won Edgar Allan Poe awards in 1989, 1995, and 1997 for best juvenile and best young adult mysteries. Her books included The View from the Cherry Tree, Twisted Summer, Don't Hurt Laurie, Megan's Island, Baby-sitting is a Dangerous Job, Hostage, The Girl with Silver Eyes, The One Left Behind and Scared Stiff.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
August 16, 2021
1.5/5
I haven't read many thriller/mystery but I know a good book when I read one.
This one? Below par.
I think it had a good start but then I kind of feel grateful that the book was less than 200 pages because it started to feel long and monotonous.
The main character, Cici wanted to unravel the truth behind Zoe's death and Brody imprisonment and I did not expect her to pull a Nancy Drew while doing so. But I have to say, her way of "finding" the real culprit has been very unproductive with only questions, some guessing talk with Jack and a bit of rummaging. In the end, you can say she did nothing to unravel the mystery. Only confession from the culprit ends it all.
I also have some issues with this book. I just knew that this was originally published in 1996 and I'm not sure if I should excuse the fact that the book may reflect how the people were thinking in that said year or be mad with the prospect of the author in describing the women and she's a woman herself!
You can see the way they described the dead (Zoe) in a promiscuous and very anti-feminist way. She's trouble, a liar, blackmailer, always trying to get into everyone's pants, a pest and you'll get all these descriptions on almost every chapter from every character. It's like she has no good quality at all (which unlikely).
I'm not sure at this point, I should really hate Zoe or the author or every other living character in the book for describing Zoe like that. And trust me, it doesn't stop there.
The first thing Jack said to Cici when he met her after two years is:
You're no longer flatchested"
I don't know how's it for everyone but the first thing I wanted to hear from someone I haven't met for so long is definitely not that my boobs are getting bigger. Or whatever it is about my physicals. Lol, who you?
This book is mysogynistic and sadly, it doesn’t only come from men. Women in this book is as nasty. None of the characters are likeable.
Overall atrocious.
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 1/5
Mystery element: 2/5
I haven't read many thriller/mystery but I know a good book when I read one.
This one? Below par.
I think it had a good start but then I kind of feel grateful that the book was less than 200 pages because it started to feel long and monotonous.
The main character, Cici wanted to unravel the truth behind Zoe's death and Brody imprisonment and I did not expect her to pull a Nancy Drew while doing so. But I have to say, her way of "finding" the real culprit has been very unproductive with only questions, some guessing talk with Jack and a bit of rummaging. In the end, you can say she did nothing to unravel the mystery. Only confession from the culprit ends it all.
I also have some issues with this book. I just knew that this was originally published in 1996 and I'm not sure if I should excuse the fact that the book may reflect how the people were thinking in that said year or be mad with the prospect of the author in describing the women and she's a woman herself!
You can see the way they described the dead (Zoe) in a promiscuous and very anti-feminist way. She's trouble, a liar, blackmailer, always trying to get into everyone's pants, a pest and you'll get all these descriptions on almost every chapter from every character. It's like she has no good quality at all (which unlikely).
"...take advantage of a person who didn't want people to know something about them..."
"always flirting with someone"
"always buzzing around making a nuisance of herself and somebody finally swatted her"
"she always tormenting someone about something"
"she had the kind of big mouth that made her want to brag about things she's getting away with"
"But it bothers me to see a young girl carrying on the way Zoe did with the old men, young men, perfect strangers... other people's husbands..."
I'm not sure at this point, I should really hate Zoe or the author or every other living character in the book for describing Zoe like that. And trust me, it doesn't stop there.
The first thing Jack said to Cici when he met her after two years is:
You're no longer flatchested"
I don't know how's it for everyone but the first thing I wanted to hear from someone I haven't met for so long is definitely not that my boobs are getting bigger. Or whatever it is about my physicals. Lol, who you?
This book is mysogynistic and sadly, it doesn’t only come from men. Women in this book is as nasty. None of the characters are likeable.
Overall atrocious.
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 1/5
Mystery element: 2/5
September 5, 2020
(a reread)
A marvelous home-spun YA thriller I loved as a kid. Have read enough times, my copy is battered, and I still enjoy it as an adult. The kind of unpretentious story where all the kids at the lake hang out together, going skinny-dipping or trying their first beer together, everyone knows everybody, and childhood crushes bloom into more serious connections. Earnest and homey but never holier-than-thou, where the characters have all stepped right out of your own childhood.
It has a great reveal at the end, plus interesting characters that still come to my thoughts once in a blue moon.
Also, the protagonist's family has the most incredible set of names. There's the narrator/protagonist herself, Cecilia (Cici), and her sister Winifred (Freddy). Then one set of cousins: Virginia (Ginny) and Misty. Then another set of cousins: Ilona, Arnie, and Errol.
Seriously, what family can boast an Errol, an Ilona, and a Misty? ... This random middle-class family from Michigan, apparently.
A marvelous home-spun YA thriller I loved as a kid. Have read enough times, my copy is battered, and I still enjoy it as an adult. The kind of unpretentious story where all the kids at the lake hang out together, going skinny-dipping or trying their first beer together, everyone knows everybody, and childhood crushes bloom into more serious connections. Earnest and homey but never holier-than-thou, where the characters have all stepped right out of your own childhood.
It has a great reveal at the end, plus interesting characters that still come to my thoughts once in a blue moon.
Also, the protagonist's family has the most incredible set of names. There's the narrator/protagonist herself, Cecilia (Cici), and her sister Winifred (Freddy). Then one set of cousins: Virginia (Ginny) and Misty. Then another set of cousins: Ilona, Arnie, and Errol.
Seriously, what family can boast an Errol, an Ilona, and a Misty? ... This random middle-class family from Michigan, apparently.
June 16, 2021
This could have easily had a higher rating if not for one major thing. I liked the setting and its atmosphere, the two main characters, Cici and Jack were decently developed, and the plot had a nice, steady pace with an interesting premise and good writing. However, the victim shaming was horrible. I know this was written in the mid-nineties, which has a lot to do with it, but it was just too much. Had only a few select characters done it, it would have made sense, but just about every single one of them just about said Zoe deserved it because how she dressed, acted, etc. The ending was fine, a bit of a stretch, but nothing I wouldn't expect in a YA mystery of this era.
April 2, 2023
For longer, snarkier review, see the entry for this book on my blog.
Every summer Cici’s extended family gathers at her grandparents’ “cottage” (more like mansion) at Crystal Lake for a few weeks of fun and relaxation. Her immediate family has only ever missed one summer at the lake, and as CiCi learns when she arrives for her current visit, she missed a lot more than some fun in the sun. The previous summer a girl was murdered and her crush’s older brother was convicted of the crime. After speaking with her crush and his mother, Cici is convinced the real killer is still out there and decides to investigate the murder on her own. As the clues start to add up, Cici is shocked to find a member of her own family may be the true guilty party.
I was disappointed by this book. I’ve been on a big nostalgia reading kick these past few months, digging out books from authors I adored in childhood and my teen years. As a kid I devoured Willo Davis Roberts’s books, even checking Babysitting is a Dangerous Job and The Absolutely True Story … How I Visited Yellowstone Park with the Terrible Rupes out from my local library numerous times. (They were the only two books by this author my library had.) Now I’m afraid to revisit them as I may not like what I find upon a reread. Or, it could simply be that Roberts is better at writing stories that involve robbery and kidnapping than murder mysteries. I’ll save that determination for another day.
I did like the basic premise of the story –Cici has grown up with both the murdered girl and the boy wrongly convicted of the crime; it’s obvious that it would catch her interest. The reason why she chooses to investigate the murder, however, is not because she was close to the victim or the alleged killer, or even that she likes to solve mysteries and is intrigued by this case – it’s because she wants to prove “she’s a big kid now” (*Cue the Pull-Ups jingle*) to her crush and win his romantic affections.
Not to say she really does much in the way of investigating. She makes a list of suspects (that she foolishly leaves out for anyone to find), asks a few questions of the neighboring regular vacationers / locals, and draws a circle on a map to determine towns the victim may have visited in the days leading up to her demise. She doesn’t take the opportunity to look over the crime scene, try to retrace the victim’s steps the night of the murder, or even question anyone’s alibis. It’s just dumb luck when some incriminating evidence falls (literally) into her lap. She’s foolish and puts herself in unnecessary danger, while also not really having any idea what she’s doing at all.
Cici doesn’t really have much of a personality outside of being a naïve, whiney brat and obsessing over her crush, Jack. While on her current stay at the lake, her grandmother has a stroke and subsequently passes away after a few days. Cici acts like this is more of an inconvenience to her summer plans than being upset she lost her grandmother. She whines about going to the hospital to see her, then whines about the Viewing of the Body and even about attending the funeral. She claims it’s because she doesn’t want to remember her grandmother as the feeble woman in a hospital bed or as a corpse – I get that fear and I understand that people grieve in different ways. This could have been explored through a conversation with a parent, aunt, older cousin or friend, but it isn’t and she comes off as a selfish brat. Having lost a grandmother at around the same age as Cici, I would have given anything to see her one last time and wouldn’t have ever thought of skipping the funeral, so her behavior is baffling to me. I even understand the lack of closeness she feels with this particular grandmother, as she seems to be one of many grandchildren. Being a member of a very large family with many cousins, I get that it’s hard to get one-on-one time with your grandparents, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less when they pass on. Suck it up, kiddo.
Cici honestly doesn’t really seem to care about anyone but herself and Jack. Her feelings for him border on obsession. She’s fourteen (though she insists on calling it ‘almost fifteen’) and desperate for any bit of attention seventeen-year-old Jack might give her. While an age gap of two and a half to three years wouldn’t typically bug me, it does here due to the vast difference in maturity between the ages of fourteen and seventeen. He’s got his license and a part time job. He's thinking about college. She’s barely hit puberty and hasn’t even started high school yet. She’s not ready for things that he likely is when it comes to romantic relationships. Thankfully, despite her best efforts, their relationship remains mostly platonic, aside from his random comment that she’s “no longer flat chested,” (GROSS!) when they’re reunited for the summer. Cici whines regularly that he still treats her like a little kid, and yeah, that’s because you’re still acting like one.
Jack himself is an okay character, but him commenting on her chest almost immediately upon seeing her soured me to him very early on. He also talks negatively about Zoe, the murdered girl, stating, “There were a couple times before that I felt like smacking Zoe’s face – or her butt – but the way we were brought up, a guy doesn’t hit a girl, even if she deserves it.” (pg. 118) Um, maybe your Mama should have taught you that violence is rarely the answer? We don’t hit people simply because they are annoying, Jack! Also, spanking? As this is supposed to be a book for preteens, I’m assuming we’re not delving into the sexual connotations, so is Jack thinking himself Zoe’s disciplinarian? She’s your peer, bro, that’s not your job.
Aside from the aforementioned gross, misogynistic comments, Jack does prove himself a valuable ally to Cici. In fact, I doubt she would have figured anything out without him, really, since he’s the one that gathers the truly damning evidence. He’s also fiercely protective of her, which comes in handy when she does something stupid.
Zoe, poor Zoe, not only was she murdered but her name has been dragged through the mud ever since her death (and I’m assuming it was before as well). While it sounds like Zoe wasn’t the best person, she didn’t deserve what happened to her, nor the way everyone talked about her in the aftermath. Only one person mentioned her actual crimes of petty theft (stealing people’s money, rifling through purses, “borrowing” a neighbor’s vehicle), the rest focus on what a flirt she was. Numerous people refer to Zoe as “throwing herself at anything in pants” and a tease, believing she “got herself killed” by leading Brody (the alleged killer) on only to reject his sexual advances. Cici disagrees with that, not on the grounds of defending Zoe, but because “he wouldn’t have had to force her” or “she wouldn’t have said no.” So, either she was killed for being a tease or she wouldn’t have been killed for that reason because she’s actually a slut? Either way, this theory disparages Zoe long after her death. I thought we weren’t supposed to speak ill of the dead?
We don’t slut shame or victim blame in this house. Also, “sluts” can and do have the ability and autonomy to say no. She could have hooked up with every guy at the lake that summer except her killer and still rejected him because it’s her body and her right to say who can and can’t touch her.
The adults thought her promiscuous, lacking proper discipline (it wasn’t just Jack that mentioned wanting to spank her), inappropriately dressed, and headed down a bad path. The kids and young adults thought she was nothing more than a pest. Only two middle aged women, Lina and Ellen, seem to have some empathy for Zoe – acknowledging she might be acting out for attention, especially of the male variety, as her father is never around. So, Daddy Issues – got it. They believed she would use her body and her looks to catch male interest but was too naïve regarding what would be expected of her once she got it. However, this just circles back to the theory she was killed for being a tease and that’s her fault because “men don’t handle rejection well.”
Another theory was that Zoe flirted with the wrong guy and his significant other felt threatened enough to kill the competition. No mention of how wrong it would be for some of these guys (ex: the grown-ass men) to return her advances – straight to “that hussy’s trying to steal my man!” If a sixteen-year-old girl is that much of a threat to your relationship, just leave him honey. Either he’s tempted to cheat / already a cheater or you have some serious trust issues and neither makes for a healthy relationship. Also, if he’s a grown man, he needs to be kept away from the underage girls.
The mystery itself is interesting – the more the characters dragged the victim, the more I wanted justice for her. As this is a book for tweens, the mystery isn’t very complex, which is fine. I did figure out the twist three chapters from the end, again no big deal in a book made for a young age group. However, the ending itself was fairly anticlimactic, leading to an underwhelming resolution.
The writing could have used more editing. There are a few points where Cici’s cousin Ginny is referred to as Ginger instead, but the text never clarifies if Ginny is a nickname for Ginger or if this was a mistake that slipped into publication.
The line “she threw herself at everything in pants” is repeatedly used and it becomes redundant very quickly. As the saying is only supposed to refer to males it seems outdated and nonsensical in an era where all sexes wear pants and Zoe was only targeting one.
The dialogue is often rambling – sometimes for the sake of exposition and sometimes just going off on something unrelated to the conversation that is never referenced again. Many of the characters barely exist in the story and most are indistinguishable from the others when they speak. No one is particularly well developed and there are times where it is obvious a decision was made in order to move the story along, even if it doesn’t make sense for the character. For instance, when Cici has a chance to climb out a window and escape the killer while they’re distracted, she chooses not to in order to stay and listen to them monologue so she can get all the details. What good is that going to do you if you’re dead? Is your ghost going to testify against them in court?
Lastly, a silly thing that I happened to notice and find amusing because I’m a horror movie nerd: Early on in the story Cici states, “There couldn’t have been a murder at Crystal Lake.” I’m guessing the Friday the 13th films don’t exist in this universe, because otherwise she would know that people are murdered at Crystal Lake all the time. In fact, it’s more unusual when someone isn’t murdered at Crystal Lake. I was waiting for a character named Jason to be introduced and turn out to be the killer. (Side Note: the setting for this book is Crystal Lake, Michigan. This is a real place, but I couldn't let the opportunity for a Friday the 13th joke to pass by.)
I’ve dragged this book pretty hard, but it wasn’t terrible – I just didn’t really like it either. I don’t think I even would have liked it at the age it was aimed towards and it definitely hasn’t aged well enough for kids in that age bracket to embrace it today. It was an okay mystery and did hold my interest but the whiney heroine, her obsession with a questionable dude, the minimal investigation, the lackluster climax and the slut shaming / victim blaming of Zoe brought it down for me.
2.5/5
Every summer Cici’s extended family gathers at her grandparents’ “cottage” (more like mansion) at Crystal Lake for a few weeks of fun and relaxation. Her immediate family has only ever missed one summer at the lake, and as CiCi learns when she arrives for her current visit, she missed a lot more than some fun in the sun. The previous summer a girl was murdered and her crush’s older brother was convicted of the crime. After speaking with her crush and his mother, Cici is convinced the real killer is still out there and decides to investigate the murder on her own. As the clues start to add up, Cici is shocked to find a member of her own family may be the true guilty party.
I was disappointed by this book. I’ve been on a big nostalgia reading kick these past few months, digging out books from authors I adored in childhood and my teen years. As a kid I devoured Willo Davis Roberts’s books, even checking Babysitting is a Dangerous Job and The Absolutely True Story … How I Visited Yellowstone Park with the Terrible Rupes out from my local library numerous times. (They were the only two books by this author my library had.) Now I’m afraid to revisit them as I may not like what I find upon a reread. Or, it could simply be that Roberts is better at writing stories that involve robbery and kidnapping than murder mysteries. I’ll save that determination for another day.
I did like the basic premise of the story –Cici has grown up with both the murdered girl and the boy wrongly convicted of the crime; it’s obvious that it would catch her interest. The reason why she chooses to investigate the murder, however, is not because she was close to the victim or the alleged killer, or even that she likes to solve mysteries and is intrigued by this case – it’s because she wants to prove “she’s a big kid now” (*Cue the Pull-Ups jingle*) to her crush and win his romantic affections.
Not to say she really does much in the way of investigating. She makes a list of suspects (that she foolishly leaves out for anyone to find), asks a few questions of the neighboring regular vacationers / locals, and draws a circle on a map to determine towns the victim may have visited in the days leading up to her demise. She doesn’t take the opportunity to look over the crime scene, try to retrace the victim’s steps the night of the murder, or even question anyone’s alibis. It’s just dumb luck when some incriminating evidence falls (literally) into her lap. She’s foolish and puts herself in unnecessary danger, while also not really having any idea what she’s doing at all.
Cici doesn’t really have much of a personality outside of being a naïve, whiney brat and obsessing over her crush, Jack. While on her current stay at the lake, her grandmother has a stroke and subsequently passes away after a few days. Cici acts like this is more of an inconvenience to her summer plans than being upset she lost her grandmother. She whines about going to the hospital to see her, then whines about the Viewing of the Body and even about attending the funeral. She claims it’s because she doesn’t want to remember her grandmother as the feeble woman in a hospital bed or as a corpse – I get that fear and I understand that people grieve in different ways. This could have been explored through a conversation with a parent, aunt, older cousin or friend, but it isn’t and she comes off as a selfish brat. Having lost a grandmother at around the same age as Cici, I would have given anything to see her one last time and wouldn’t have ever thought of skipping the funeral, so her behavior is baffling to me. I even understand the lack of closeness she feels with this particular grandmother, as she seems to be one of many grandchildren. Being a member of a very large family with many cousins, I get that it’s hard to get one-on-one time with your grandparents, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less when they pass on. Suck it up, kiddo.
Cici honestly doesn’t really seem to care about anyone but herself and Jack. Her feelings for him border on obsession. She’s fourteen (though she insists on calling it ‘almost fifteen’) and desperate for any bit of attention seventeen-year-old Jack might give her. While an age gap of two and a half to three years wouldn’t typically bug me, it does here due to the vast difference in maturity between the ages of fourteen and seventeen. He’s got his license and a part time job. He's thinking about college. She’s barely hit puberty and hasn’t even started high school yet. She’s not ready for things that he likely is when it comes to romantic relationships. Thankfully, despite her best efforts, their relationship remains mostly platonic, aside from his random comment that she’s “no longer flat chested,” (GROSS!) when they’re reunited for the summer. Cici whines regularly that he still treats her like a little kid, and yeah, that’s because you’re still acting like one.
Jack himself is an okay character, but him commenting on her chest almost immediately upon seeing her soured me to him very early on. He also talks negatively about Zoe, the murdered girl, stating, “There were a couple times before that I felt like smacking Zoe’s face – or her butt – but the way we were brought up, a guy doesn’t hit a girl, even if she deserves it.” (pg. 118) Um, maybe your Mama should have taught you that violence is rarely the answer? We don’t hit people simply because they are annoying, Jack! Also, spanking? As this is supposed to be a book for preteens, I’m assuming we’re not delving into the sexual connotations, so is Jack thinking himself Zoe’s disciplinarian? She’s your peer, bro, that’s not your job.
Aside from the aforementioned gross, misogynistic comments, Jack does prove himself a valuable ally to Cici. In fact, I doubt she would have figured anything out without him, really, since he’s the one that gathers the truly damning evidence. He’s also fiercely protective of her, which comes in handy when she does something stupid.
Zoe, poor Zoe, not only was she murdered but her name has been dragged through the mud ever since her death (and I’m assuming it was before as well). While it sounds like Zoe wasn’t the best person, she didn’t deserve what happened to her, nor the way everyone talked about her in the aftermath. Only one person mentioned her actual crimes of petty theft (stealing people’s money, rifling through purses, “borrowing” a neighbor’s vehicle), the rest focus on what a flirt she was. Numerous people refer to Zoe as “throwing herself at anything in pants” and a tease, believing she “got herself killed” by leading Brody (the alleged killer) on only to reject his sexual advances. Cici disagrees with that, not on the grounds of defending Zoe, but because “he wouldn’t have had to force her” or “she wouldn’t have said no.” So, either she was killed for being a tease or she wouldn’t have been killed for that reason because she’s actually a slut? Either way, this theory disparages Zoe long after her death. I thought we weren’t supposed to speak ill of the dead?
We don’t slut shame or victim blame in this house. Also, “sluts” can and do have the ability and autonomy to say no. She could have hooked up with every guy at the lake that summer except her killer and still rejected him because it’s her body and her right to say who can and can’t touch her.
The adults thought her promiscuous, lacking proper discipline (it wasn’t just Jack that mentioned wanting to spank her), inappropriately dressed, and headed down a bad path. The kids and young adults thought she was nothing more than a pest. Only two middle aged women, Lina and Ellen, seem to have some empathy for Zoe – acknowledging she might be acting out for attention, especially of the male variety, as her father is never around. So, Daddy Issues – got it. They believed she would use her body and her looks to catch male interest but was too naïve regarding what would be expected of her once she got it. However, this just circles back to the theory she was killed for being a tease and that’s her fault because “men don’t handle rejection well.”
Another theory was that Zoe flirted with the wrong guy and his significant other felt threatened enough to kill the competition. No mention of how wrong it would be for some of these guys (ex: the grown-ass men) to return her advances – straight to “that hussy’s trying to steal my man!” If a sixteen-year-old girl is that much of a threat to your relationship, just leave him honey. Either he’s tempted to cheat / already a cheater or you have some serious trust issues and neither makes for a healthy relationship. Also, if he’s a grown man, he needs to be kept away from the underage girls.
The mystery itself is interesting – the more the characters dragged the victim, the more I wanted justice for her. As this is a book for tweens, the mystery isn’t very complex, which is fine. I did figure out the twist three chapters from the end, again no big deal in a book made for a young age group. However, the ending itself was fairly anticlimactic, leading to an underwhelming resolution.
The writing could have used more editing. There are a few points where Cici’s cousin Ginny is referred to as Ginger instead, but the text never clarifies if Ginny is a nickname for Ginger or if this was a mistake that slipped into publication.
The line “she threw herself at everything in pants” is repeatedly used and it becomes redundant very quickly. As the saying is only supposed to refer to males it seems outdated and nonsensical in an era where all sexes wear pants and Zoe was only targeting one.
The dialogue is often rambling – sometimes for the sake of exposition and sometimes just going off on something unrelated to the conversation that is never referenced again. Many of the characters barely exist in the story and most are indistinguishable from the others when they speak. No one is particularly well developed and there are times where it is obvious a decision was made in order to move the story along, even if it doesn’t make sense for the character. For instance, when Cici has a chance to climb out a window and escape the killer while they’re distracted, she chooses not to in order to stay and listen to them monologue so she can get all the details. What good is that going to do you if you’re dead? Is your ghost going to testify against them in court?
Lastly, a silly thing that I happened to notice and find amusing because I’m a horror movie nerd: Early on in the story Cici states, “There couldn’t have been a murder at Crystal Lake.” I’m guessing the Friday the 13th films don’t exist in this universe, because otherwise she would know that people are murdered at Crystal Lake all the time. In fact, it’s more unusual when someone isn’t murdered at Crystal Lake. I was waiting for a character named Jason to be introduced and turn out to be the killer. (Side Note: the setting for this book is Crystal Lake, Michigan. This is a real place, but I couldn't let the opportunity for a Friday the 13th joke to pass by.)
I’ve dragged this book pretty hard, but it wasn’t terrible – I just didn’t really like it either. I don’t think I even would have liked it at the age it was aimed towards and it definitely hasn’t aged well enough for kids in that age bracket to embrace it today. It was an okay mystery and did hold my interest but the whiney heroine, her obsession with a questionable dude, the minimal investigation, the lackluster climax and the slut shaming / victim blaming of Zoe brought it down for me.
2.5/5
September 7, 2024
A classic, short n sweet Nancy Drew murder mystery. I remember my sister loved this book in middle school and that tracks
April 5, 2018
I was surprised by how much I actually liked this book. It’s a murder mystery novel and I actually really liked it. I was sceptical by the fact that it was so short-192 pages long-but as I like to say, never judge a book by its length!
This book follows a girl named Cici who goes on an annual summer trip to visit her aunts, uncles and cousins at Crystal Lake. She finds out that one of the girls that lives in Crystal Lake was murdered the year before, and the suspect was one of her close friend’s brother. Cici believes that her friend’s brother is innocent and decideds to peice together the events of the murder and prove her friends brother guilty.
I’ll start by saying that I was a bit confused in the beginning of the book because there are so many characters, but after a few chapters it isn’t as confusing anymore.
I really enjoyed Cici’s relationship with her cousins and I loved reading about her spending time with them, because I also have close relationships with my cousins.
I abesolutely love Willo’s writing style. I was sucked in from the first page and honestly his writing was one of the best parts about the book. The way he introduces his characters makes you feel like you’ve known them for a long time, and I feel like I actually stepped into Crystal Lake whilst reading this book.
Overall I liked this book, and I’d recommend!
This book follows a girl named Cici who goes on an annual summer trip to visit her aunts, uncles and cousins at Crystal Lake. She finds out that one of the girls that lives in Crystal Lake was murdered the year before, and the suspect was one of her close friend’s brother. Cici believes that her friend’s brother is innocent and decideds to peice together the events of the murder and prove her friends brother guilty.
I’ll start by saying that I was a bit confused in the beginning of the book because there are so many characters, but after a few chapters it isn’t as confusing anymore.
I really enjoyed Cici’s relationship with her cousins and I loved reading about her spending time with them, because I also have close relationships with my cousins.
I abesolutely love Willo’s writing style. I was sucked in from the first page and honestly his writing was one of the best parts about the book. The way he introduces his characters makes you feel like you’ve known them for a long time, and I feel like I actually stepped into Crystal Lake whilst reading this book.
Overall I liked this book, and I’d recommend!
October 20, 2018
This book was great. I was confused by this mystery. This story has a lot of characters, so I had no idea who killed Zoe until the end, I would recommend this if you like to read mystery. And this story also has a little bit romance. Cici is a 14 years old girl, but she didn't give up and she found a truth. I was surprised because she has a lot of energy. I want to be a person who would not give up to the end like her. Also I think I could learn new word from this book. There were not many difficult words, so it was easy to read.
July 25, 2019
For a short book this was better than Ide imagined. Great story line and characters. Kept me guessing until the last few pages.
November 26, 2016
Twisted summer by Willo Davis Roberts takes you to Crystal Lake. Where all the family gathers every year. Cici unfortunately last year had miss the big gathering. Because her dad went on a big business trip so her family joined him. When she comes back she finds out that one of her closest friends have convicted a murder. Cice tries her hardest to prove that her friend Brody is not the killer. All though this book had an amazing plot and was really well written. If I were to just describe the book it would sound really good, but reading the book was not as good. The reason I say this is because it was just slow. Not slow that it took forever to move on, like slow that action was not that great. It was just not what I looking for in this type of book. But the theme I got from this book is don't ever give up because no matter how hard it looks you can still achieve it if you keep trying. In conclusion this is a really good book if you are looking for something quick to read. And if you love a good old mystery. I really enjoyed this book I just know that was just so much more that could of been done with it and would of gone a different direction.
January 21, 2009
Oh how sweet...A murder mystery for children.
My library has this shelved in the children's department, but I think a book about the murder of a teenage girl belongs in the young adult department, so that's the shelf I'm putting it on. I certainly would not recommend this book for anyone under "almost 15," which is the protagonist's age.
I think it's really strange that we live in a culture where reading about murder is a form of entertainment. I find reading about murder very distasteful. I only picked up this book because I had read a couple of other books by Willo Davis Roberts and was kind of on a kick of her work.
I will say that this book had me guessing "who done it" until everything was explained right at the end. I guess it did its job good (as Meatwad would say) in that respect. I wouldn't say the writing was all that exciting, but it did keep me reading, which I guess is the point.
My library has this shelved in the children's department, but I think a book about the murder of a teenage girl belongs in the young adult department, so that's the shelf I'm putting it on. I certainly would not recommend this book for anyone under "almost 15," which is the protagonist's age.
I think it's really strange that we live in a culture where reading about murder is a form of entertainment. I find reading about murder very distasteful. I only picked up this book because I had read a couple of other books by Willo Davis Roberts and was kind of on a kick of her work.
I will say that this book had me guessing "who done it" until everything was explained right at the end. I guess it did its job good (as Meatwad would say) in that respect. I wouldn't say the writing was all that exciting, but it did keep me reading, which I guess is the point.
March 28, 2010
This isn't a bad mystery, but it does move pretty slowly. Most of the real action happens at the end. I finished it in an afternoon so at least it wasn't that slow a read. Cici and Jack are pretty good characters, but most of the other characters, including the murder girl's family, are not well described. At least this mystery tied up nicely unlike the Sally Lockhart one.
October 30, 2008
OMG!!! I loved this book! It is sorta a mystery and sorta not! lol! ! loved it!
March 30, 2022
ACT I
I want to start off with that this book is a bit less than mid. It started off enjoyable and made me feel like I was actually there. However, slowly throughout the book, I felt like the terms were mixed up and they didn't really make much sense. Around the middle of the book, Cici calls the Lakeside houses a Camp? Like people are living there. And I didn't understand why she was saying the Judge climbed a GARDEN HOSE. Like, come on now. Near the beginning, they described the Judge as Slump and strict. In contrast to the end, he is suddenly Tall, strong, when they are in the cabin, but once he tells the story she describes him as old and slump again. I wouldn't even consider him a well-rounded character either.
ACT II
The whole book I knew it was the Judge, Trafton, or Jack. First of all, they put way too many clues for the Judge so it was pointless having the book be 200 pages at the very least. We had so many hints that it was the Judge, I didn't even want to finish the book. Cici told us that it was the judge long before the book was over. Since it was put so early, it's no longer a mystery book, more like a thriller. Not even halfway in the book, Lina tells Cici that the Judge wouldn't do anything about it and he had helped people in even worse situations, which was a dead giveaway.
ACT III
My last thing. She was OBSESSED WITH JACK. The relationship between Jack and Cici was utterly disgusting. She is fifteen and Jack is 17 or 18 now. (when Zoe was alive she was 16 and it was about a year and a half later so he would be turning 18 that year I believe.) I am ok with the age difference, but she was too obsessed with him. She is trying to solve a mystery and TELLS a suspect every detail. This book would have been more fun and exciting if her love interest (Jack), was the killer. Her first encounter was when she sees jack on the boat I think, and he says "Your not flat-chested anymore." or something like that, and HOW TRIGGERING. You haven't seen this girl in more than a year and are concerned about her puberty? It makes me so frustrated how he can say that, but still, treat her like a child. Then he is calling her stupid at the end for sneaking when her entire intention was just to save brody and for things to go back to normal.
I want to start off with that this book is a bit less than mid. It started off enjoyable and made me feel like I was actually there. However, slowly throughout the book, I felt like the terms were mixed up and they didn't really make much sense. Around the middle of the book, Cici calls the Lakeside houses a Camp? Like people are living there. And I didn't understand why she was saying the Judge climbed a GARDEN HOSE. Like, come on now. Near the beginning, they described the Judge as Slump and strict. In contrast to the end, he is suddenly Tall, strong, when they are in the cabin, but once he tells the story she describes him as old and slump again. I wouldn't even consider him a well-rounded character either.
ACT II
The whole book I knew it was the Judge, Trafton, or Jack. First of all, they put way too many clues for the Judge so it was pointless having the book be 200 pages at the very least. We had so many hints that it was the Judge, I didn't even want to finish the book. Cici told us that it was the judge long before the book was over. Since it was put so early, it's no longer a mystery book, more like a thriller. Not even halfway in the book, Lina tells Cici that the Judge wouldn't do anything about it and he had helped people in even worse situations, which was a dead giveaway.
ACT III
My last thing. She was OBSESSED WITH JACK. The relationship between Jack and Cici was utterly disgusting. She is fifteen and Jack is 17 or 18 now. (when Zoe was alive she was 16 and it was about a year and a half later so he would be turning 18 that year I believe.) I am ok with the age difference, but she was too obsessed with him. She is trying to solve a mystery and TELLS a suspect every detail. This book would have been more fun and exciting if her love interest (Jack), was the killer. Her first encounter was when she sees jack on the boat I think, and he says "Your not flat-chested anymore." or something like that, and HOW TRIGGERING. You haven't seen this girl in more than a year and are concerned about her puberty? It makes me so frustrated how he can say that, but still, treat her like a child. Then he is calling her stupid at the end for sneaking when her entire intention was just to save brody and for things to go back to normal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2020
Twisted Summer
.
1.5 stars
.
This book is 185 pages but feels like 900. One would think that with a book this short it wouldn’t take long to get into the exciting bits of the story, well one would be WRONG. Both in assuming you’d quickly get to the exciting bits and also in assuming there ARE, in fact, exciting bits of this story.
.
The synopsis promises an exciting murder mystery where the killer is likely someone the Main character, Cici has grown up with in her tight knit community. There’s potential there, right?
.
While there is a murder, and the main character is attempting to solve said murder OVER A YEAR LATER- all that happens in the first half of this book is the introduction of about a million forgettable characters and the MC’s Grandmother having a stroke and eventually dying. Plus the MC whining about having to be involved in anyway at all with the sickness, death and funeral.
.
The main character only decides to try to solve this murder in a ridiculous attempt to prove to her crush- who happens to be the brother of the accused- that she is no longer a “little kid” but now a “big kid” in a hopes to spark a romantic relationship?
.
I hated the way the murdered girl, Zoe, was constantly described as throwing her snatch at anything in pants. I mean, nearly every person in this book described her like this- and a few even suggested she brought her murder upon herself for being promiscuous … Um, what the fuck?!
.
THE BEST PART!
.
Once you get to the big reveal, you learn that even if Cici hadn’t been trying to hunt down what truly happened to Zoe the previous summer, One of the culprits had planned to go to the police and explain what really happened anyway….. so the ENTIRE PLOT OF THIS BOOK WAS UNNECESSARY. Just like me reading it.
.
.
1.5 stars
.
This book is 185 pages but feels like 900. One would think that with a book this short it wouldn’t take long to get into the exciting bits of the story, well one would be WRONG. Both in assuming you’d quickly get to the exciting bits and also in assuming there ARE, in fact, exciting bits of this story.
.
The synopsis promises an exciting murder mystery where the killer is likely someone the Main character, Cici has grown up with in her tight knit community. There’s potential there, right?
.
While there is a murder, and the main character is attempting to solve said murder OVER A YEAR LATER- all that happens in the first half of this book is the introduction of about a million forgettable characters and the MC’s Grandmother having a stroke and eventually dying. Plus the MC whining about having to be involved in anyway at all with the sickness, death and funeral.
.
The main character only decides to try to solve this murder in a ridiculous attempt to prove to her crush- who happens to be the brother of the accused- that she is no longer a “little kid” but now a “big kid” in a hopes to spark a romantic relationship?
.
I hated the way the murdered girl, Zoe, was constantly described as throwing her snatch at anything in pants. I mean, nearly every person in this book described her like this- and a few even suggested she brought her murder upon herself for being promiscuous … Um, what the fuck?!
.
THE BEST PART!
.
Once you get to the big reveal, you learn that even if Cici hadn’t been trying to hunt down what truly happened to Zoe the previous summer, One of the culprits had planned to go to the police and explain what really happened anyway….. so the ENTIRE PLOT OF THIS BOOK WAS UNNECESSARY. Just like me reading it.
.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2024
I just finished this YA mystery/suspense/thriller by Willo Davis Roberts, and I highly enjoyed reading it. It's about a teen girl named Cici who goes up to her family's cabin on a lake to spend the summer, not realizing that the summer before a horrific murder of a teen girl occurred and the boy Cici is in love with, Jack, his brother has been sent to prison for the crime. This leaves a lot of tension between the families and Cici just can't believe the boy who was convicted is guilty, neither can Jack. As Cici delves deeper and deeper into a cast that was deemed closed, she discovers that the wrong person was sent to prison and the guilty party knows Cici now knows.
This book had many things I look for in a book. It was short (less than 200 pages); first person narrator; wasn't just about one thing but blended many YA elements together; the setting is up at a lake throughout a summer vacation; the last quarter of the book was full of twists and turns; and it won an Edgar Award for best mystery novel of that year for the YA category, which made it fun to read and a 90s time capsule experience. I just am really enjoying these older reads and appreciate the craftsmanship of their swiftness. I find current YA suspense thrillers to be so message sending and deep and long winded (lengthwise) that it's kind of refreshing to just read something that was meant to be pure entertainment. My rating - 5/5
This book had many things I look for in a book. It was short (less than 200 pages); first person narrator; wasn't just about one thing but blended many YA elements together; the setting is up at a lake throughout a summer vacation; the last quarter of the book was full of twists and turns; and it won an Edgar Award for best mystery novel of that year for the YA category, which made it fun to read and a 90s time capsule experience. I just am really enjoying these older reads and appreciate the craftsmanship of their swiftness. I find current YA suspense thrillers to be so message sending and deep and long winded (lengthwise) that it's kind of refreshing to just read something that was meant to be pure entertainment. My rating - 5/5
January 24, 2018
One of those books that makes me wonder how it got published. Did they have an editor at all? It has a terrible plot (someone tried to shoot at me, but I think I'll go looking for the killer in the middle of the night"), unrealistic characters, no mystery, badly written " they had bought a nifty one" really? Just an all around disappointment of a book.
From School Library Journal:
The brisk pace of this suspenseful murder mystery lures readers right to the gripping ending. Fourteen-year-old Cici Linden's anticipated summer among family and old friends on Crystal Lake in Michigan takes an abrupt turn when she realizes that the brother of the boy she likes has been convicted of murdering a flirtatious girl from the summer community. Convinced of Brody's innocence, Cici searches for the real killer in the midst of the illness and death of her beloved grandmother and her growing conviction that her stepgrandfather is somehow involved in the crime. Before discovering the murderer's identity, Cici survives being shot at and uncovers double blackmail. Roberts writes insightfully about death and the different ways in which people grieve. This is a well-crafted, sophisticated story that conveys Cici's conflicting feelings as her hopes for a romantic summer turn sour.?Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal:
The brisk pace of this suspenseful murder mystery lures readers right to the gripping ending. Fourteen-year-old Cici Linden's anticipated summer among family and old friends on Crystal Lake in Michigan takes an abrupt turn when she realizes that the brother of the boy she likes has been convicted of murdering a flirtatious girl from the summer community. Convinced of Brody's innocence, Cici searches for the real killer in the midst of the illness and death of her beloved grandmother and her growing conviction that her stepgrandfather is somehow involved in the crime. Before discovering the murderer's identity, Cici survives being shot at and uncovers double blackmail. Roberts writes insightfully about death and the different ways in which people grieve. This is a well-crafted, sophisticated story that conveys Cici's conflicting feelings as her hopes for a romantic summer turn sour.?Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2022
hmmm i like that its direct to the point with what and how the story will flow but it felt a bit flat and dull in terms of finding out who the murderer is and if it is Brody or not. there was not really much of solving like i felt that what Cici was doing to try and find out what happened that summer of Zoe's death was a bit boring and empty. idk why but even with less than 200 seconds, it still felt slow with the pacing. i think it was around Chapter 12 or 13 when things really picked up and i wasn't sure what was going to happen now as more of the truths are unraveled. i really wanted it to somehow pick up the pace in terms of the mystery and thriller from the start tho. i also did not really vibe for any of the characters except maybe Lina hahaha.
i also felt irked up a bit with how Zoe was presented in this book. there was a lot of slut shaming and how the opinions of the people are like she deserved it and she got a taste of her own medicine because she was always flirting around or going after every guy & how she dressed differently etc etc. it was written so long ago though so idk i can't really give it the cmon its 2022 because this was released in 1998 (ironically a month before i was born lol). the ending was also a bit meh like happy ending but i just felt eh as i read the last sentence and closed the book.
i also felt irked up a bit with how Zoe was presented in this book. there was a lot of slut shaming and how the opinions of the people are like she deserved it and she got a taste of her own medicine because she was always flirting around or going after every guy & how she dressed differently etc etc. it was written so long ago though so idk i can't really give it the cmon its 2022 because this was released in 1998 (ironically a month before i was born lol). the ending was also a bit meh like happy ending but i just felt eh as i read the last sentence and closed the book.
June 22, 2021
I read this book every year during the summer, and it never fails to bring me nostalgia and a good time. The story within itself is very well written and it manages to keep a tense atmosphere even when there isn't much going on. I think the author hit the nail on the head with Cici wanting to be accepted as a "big kid" now that she is 15. I feel the same way as a 15 year old myself, and the need to be accepted can almost be overwhelming. Then there is the crush she has on Jack, which I too can also relate to, just the need to have them notice you can also become tiring. The mystery is very well thought out, though I recommend keeping a small list of characters in order to keep track of everyone.
November 27, 2019
Willo Davis Roberts was one of my favorite writers as a tween. Her books were scary and full of mature situations handled in a delicate way.
Our young teen protagonist Cici goes with her family on a vacation to see her extended family at Crystal Lake, including Grandma Molly and her step-grandfather nicknamed Judge. They hadn’t been in two years, but interestingly there was a murder the previous summer, and an older teen girl was killed....unbeknownst to Cici or her parents (which seems a bit implausible even before social media).
Her friend Jack’s brother Brody had been found guilty. Jack is insistent his brother is innocent. Cici puts on her detective cap and gets down to business.
Our young teen protagonist Cici goes with her family on a vacation to see her extended family at Crystal Lake, including Grandma Molly and her step-grandfather nicknamed Judge. They hadn’t been in two years, but interestingly there was a murder the previous summer, and an older teen girl was killed....unbeknownst to Cici or her parents (which seems a bit implausible even before social media).
Her friend Jack’s brother Brody had been found guilty. Jack is insistent his brother is innocent. Cici puts on her detective cap and gets down to business.
February 27, 2020
This book was really bad. Not only did it give unrealistic characters, but the plot was terrible. There was little to no character development and it was just written very poorly. It does not seem as though very much time was taken while writting this book. The grammar was mildly confusing, the characters were poorly introduced, and it took very little time explaining what was happening. Very little was said about some characters (most of them) and the characters were very random and some almost not acknowledged at all. This book is by far one of the most poorly written books I have read in a while.
July 8, 2024
Book did not live up to the title, was disappointed in the story, characters, and the mystery. Pacing felt awkward, characters had shallow personalities, and a predictable outcome. Plot twist was mediocre at best but made little sense in the way it was developed. Was very much not a fan of the victim blaming of the murdered 16 year old girl, why does no one feel anything but a sense of righteousness that she’s dead??? Also who asks if the parents of a murdered daughter have “gotten over it” by now?? And the fact they exclusively call their grandfather The Judge is pretty wack too. Story had potential but ultimately it’s a shallow read at best with very rickety framework holding it together.
August 2, 2021
2.5 stars. It is a short and easy novel to read. It has an interesting and enjoyable plot line.
Personally, I think it would be better if the author approaching each character more slowly or has different sections because in the beginning it was just too much character that being introduced and that made me struggled to understand who’s who.
The writing style is also easy to understand and good for beginner.
Personally, I think it would be better if the author approaching each character more slowly or has different sections because in the beginning it was just too much character that being introduced and that made me struggled to understand who’s who.
The writing style is also easy to understand and good for beginner.
September 13, 2021
It's bland and boring. There's nothing super interesting to it. The characters are not likable. I hate how a girl started flirting with grown men even when she was still 12. I really don't like this book. The main character is also around 14 who likes this dude that can already legally drive. And she expects him to look at her like she's all grown up and that she'd want him as his girlfriend. Also, the mystery itself is so dull. There's nothing interesting. Really.
February 24, 2017
This is definitely a mystery for middle schoolers. I was bored most of the time. But middle schoolers will like the ease of reading, the suspense of one their own age trying to solve a mystery, the real emotions preteens have, and things like that. So for that reason, I would certainly recommend it to my 7th graders, but for me, well, I was bored.
July 12, 2018
This was a very easy, fast paced read. I didn’t realize that it was more middle school then young adult. The main characters were a lot younger than I expected. Even though CiCi was 14, I wish there had been a little more romance between her and Jake. At least a kiss 🤷🏼♀️ But either way it was cute!
February 17, 2021
This book was simply boring and basic. The characters were poorly introduced and it was so basic and a terrible storyline. I’d give it two stars only for the interesting questions and conversations we had within my discussion group at school but no I would not recommend this book...maybe only to 5th or 6th graders.
June 27, 2021
Twisted Summer is a book full of mystery and intrigue. It kept me guessing all the way to the end. when it was over, I was still second guessing the outcome. Lol I love the way Willo Davis Roberts wrote it in first person. When I was growing up, we had a close-knit family, like the one Cici has in this book, so it was easy to connect with the bond they all shared. Great book!
August 11, 2021
I first read this book when I was about 10 & I honestly had no business reading it because for a 10 year old it’s low key scary but nevertheless it was one of those books that has stuck with me for over 10 years so when I saw it at my library’s book sale for 30 cents I know I had to grab it. Now was it as good as it was years ago? No. But I’m all for a nostalgic read hence the 4 stars.
April 16, 2022
I just finished this book today, and I am AMAZED. Willo Davis Roberts never disappoints, especially when it comes to mysteries!
The characters were all so wonderful in their own ways, and I loved the setting of this little lake community.
The storyline was spectacular, and I did NOT see the ending coming at all.
I loved this book, and hope someone else enjoys it as much as I do. ❤️
The characters were all so wonderful in their own ways, and I loved the setting of this little lake community.
The storyline was spectacular, and I did NOT see the ending coming at all.
I loved this book, and hope someone else enjoys it as much as I do. ❤️
January 30, 2023
I am not found of this book only because the book doesn't tell the story very well and I cant get the story through, all I've really found out about this book is that someone named Zoe was murdered and the person they have said to be the killer Cici doesn't think killed her. but the story line with this book is hard to understand
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